Last night comes crashing back, and as I blink open my eyes, I remember that the three of us slept in Camden’s room. “Have a good day,” I whisper in my sleep-laced voice.
Baker pulls me back into his chest and buries his face in my neck. I should pull out of his embrace, remind him that I work for him and that lines are being blurred, but I don’t. Instead, I soak up the feel of his arms wrapped around me and remind myself that he’s had a rough few weeks—hell, a rough few years, and he’s leaning on me like I told him that he could.
That’s all this is.
I don’t know how much time passes, but he eventually sighs, kisses my cheek one more time, and releases me. He climbs over both of us, bends down to kiss Camden, and whispers, “Have a good day,” before he disappears out the door.
There’s no way I’m getting back to sleep after that, but I continue to lie here until I hear the faint sounds of his SUV pulling out of the garage. Carefully, I climb out of bed and head to my room to get ready for the day.
I need a cup of coffee, but Camden’s still sleeping, so instead, I lounge on my bed and read a little until I hear him jabbering through the baby monitor. Smiling, I turn off my tablet and the baby monitor and head to his room.
“Good morning, handsome.” I smile at him, and he rewards me with one from him. “How did you sleep?” I ask, bending down and lifting him into my arms.
“No sweap. Pway,” he says.
I chuckle. “First, let's get your diaper changed, some food in your belly, and then we can go to the park for a little bit to play. Maybe we’ll call Bellamy and see if baby Coral wants to come with us.”
“Baby,” he says, his eyes lighting up.
“I know. You love your baby cousin, don’t you?” I ask, as I finish changing his diaper. “Now, let’s fill this belly.” I tickle his tummy, and he laughs. Downstairs, I strap him into the new booster seat that I ordered for him. It’s counter height and sits at the Island, and he loves it so much better than his highchair.
I saw it online one day while he was napping and texted Baker, asking if I could buy it. I smile when I remember his reply. “You have the card; use it for whatever the two of you need.” He included me, and it warmed my heart. Not that I would. I only use the card for things Camden or Baker needs, like sending flowers and buying him clothes. I’d never use it for my own personal use.
“Okay, kiddo, today’s menu is scrambled eggs, toast, and some blueberries.” Grabbing a plate, I get to work, popping two pieces of bread into the toaster, quickly cutting blueberries in half, and placing them on the plate in front of him. He dives right in, shoving them into his mouth.
Once his toast is buttered and on his plate, I start some scrambled eggs for each of us. He eats like a champ, and I snap a picture of his empty plate and him smiling with a messy face, and send it off to Baker.
* * *
Me: Breakfast was a success!
* * *
I know he can’t reply, but he’ll see it when he gets a chance to check his phone, and I know he likes to get updates about our day. Not because he’s a helicopter dad, but he loves his son, and he wants to be involved in all aspects of his life, even if it’s pictures of things he’s missing while he works.
After Camden’s cleaned up from breakfast, he runs off to the living room to play, and I follow him, phone in hand, while I call Bellamy.
“Hey,” she greets me.
“Morning. I’m calling with an official invitation for you and Coral to join us for a morning at the park,” I say in a prim and proper voice.
“Oh. Are you not going to the event at the stadium?”
“What event?”
“It’s fans weekend.”
“I knew that was a thing, but I guess I forgot about it,” I admit.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s open to all fans, and they can get autographs or whatever. I’m taking Coral to surprise Reid.”
“He’s going to love that.”
“You and Camden should join us. I know Baker would love for him to be there. Cam’s never attended any of the events, outside of family day when Baker had him. Mrs. Ward never brought him, and neither did Natasha.”
“Really?” I ask. That makes my heart hurt for Baker.
“Nope. He’d love it. I’m sure he didn’t mention it because it wasn’t Mrs. Ward’s thing. He’s never had him there, so it probably didn’t even dawn on him,” Bellamy says.
